Free entertainment is as close as the local city park this summer as several communities offer music through August and September.

The Marietta Welfare League kicks off its 2018 season tonight with Levi Westfall. The concerts in Muskingum Park are held each Thursday through the summer at 7 p.m.

“I will be playing with my band Newfeather and we will be kicking off this event for the third year,” Westfall said. “We are excited to be playing Americana rock music. We play locally pretty often but we’re especially glad to be part of this event because it’s hosted by local people who are good to us. We’re always glad to give back to nonprofit events.”

Other acts include the Marietta Children’s Choir, High Schools That Rock, Marietta High School Vocal Point and the MHS Wall of Sound.

The 20th season of Belpre’s Music By the River officially started Tuesday but the show featuring Sherry Braid as Patsy Cline was rained out. Concerts are held Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. at the gazebo in Civitan Park.

“The artists know that we have to cancel if it rains and we make the decision by 5 p.m. We don’t typically reschedule because we have our whole season already planned out,” said Karen Matthews, vice president and corresponding secretary for the Belpre Women’s Club.

The significance of having Braid perform for the 20th year is because she performed as Patsy Cline for the very first event.

“At most we get about 500 people, usually it’s a couple hundred. The people tend to like country and gospel,” Matthews said.

Tomlinson Park in Williamstown is the location for Williamstown’s annual free summer music series. The shows will be every Tuesday at 7 p.m. and will include a variety of music, including performers from the Ohio Valley Opry.

Artsbridge will also be hosting its Summer Music Series at Parkersburg City Park at 7 p.m. on Thursdays. Music genres range from bluegrass to classic rock. The Summer Music Series is free with donations collected for Arts in Education programs benefiting local schools in the Mid-Ohio Valley.

Marietta Music in the Park (Muskingum Park)

¯ June 7: Levi Westfall

¯ June 14: Marietta Children’s Choir

¯ June 21: St. Marys Community Band

¯ June 28: High Schools That Rock

¯ July 5: Sierra Caywood Band

¯ July 12: 5th Street Quartet

¯ July 19: Karl Kesselring

¯ July 26: Madeline Brookover

¯ Aug. 2: The Tune Smiths

¯ Aug. 9: Neon Mood Band

¯ Aug. 16: Veritas Singers

¯ Aug. 23: Marietta High School Vocal Point

¯ Aug. 30: Marietta High School Band

Belpre Music By the River (Civitan Park)

¯ June 12: Band of Brothers (20th anniversary cupcake celebration)

¯ June 19: The Carriers

¯ June 26: Plan B

¯ July 3: St. Marys Community Band

¯ July 10: Steve and Bev Pottmeyer

¯ July 17: Remember Then

¯ July 24: Tom Roddy

¯ July 24: RB3

¯ Aug. 7: Still Crazy

¯ Aug. 14: Elvis featuring Jim Forshey

¯ Aug. 21: River Town Band

¯ Aug. 28: Belpre High School Marching Band and Tall Grass

Williamstown Music in the Park (Tomlinson Park)

¯ June 12: Plan B with John Gallagher

¯ June 19: Jerry and Lisa Queen

¯ June 26: Tom Roddey and Charlies Horse Band

¯ July 3: The Smith Family Singers

¯ July 10: The Kappel Family

¯ July 17: Jimmy Howson – Ohio Valley Opry

¯ July 24: Windy Ridge – Sam and Patsy Brookover

¯ July 31: St. Marys Community Concert Band

¯ Aug. 7: Eugene Haught – All of God’s Children

¯ Aug. 14: The Tune Smiths

¯ Aug. 21: Laurel Creek

¯ Aug. 28: The Clark Family – Ohio Valley Opry

¯ Sept. 4: Dennis Sipe – Alpha and Omega

¯ Sept. 11: The Band of Brothers

Artsbridge Summer Music Series (Parkersburg City Park)

¯ June 7: The Brady Young Band (Blues and Funk)

¯ June 14: The Janes (Soft Rock/Folk)

¯ June 21: The Williams Family (Gospel)

¯ June 28: The Johnny Staats Project (Country)

¯ July 5: Insured Sound (Classic Rock)

¯ July 12: Sherry Wilson Braid as Patsy Cline

¯ July 19: GadastaMopard (1960s music to present)

¯ July 26: Sheppard Brothers (Bluegrass)

¯ Aug. 2: Britain (1960s music)

¯ Aug. 9: Steve Hussey and Jake Eddy (Bluegrass)

¯ Aug. 16: Cradle & Grave (Folk/Pop)

¯ Aug. 23: Band of Brothers (1960s through current)

¯ Aug. 30: Parkersburg High School Big Red Band and Parkersburg South High School Patriot Band